strength, and no injurious degree of elasticity, are made taper at one extremity, and slightly curved there. This end is easily introduced beneath the platinum suspension wire, and as easily withdrawn when the cover is removed.
62. All these matters being preliminarily arranged, the final disposition of the tray and its charge is made. The air-tube is carefully wiped, and its external aperture closed by a clean loose plug of dry sponge. The tray is for the last time freed from dust by inversion and blowing upon it, and is put into its place. The quantity of rough glass necessary for the required plate, about 8lbs in the present instance (30), is carefully weighed out, and then introduced by an evaporating basin, or some other means which shall not allow of the admission of any reducing or colouring matter, or permit any portion of glass to pass beyond the edges of the tray. The tray-covers are then to be arranged in their places; the iron covers of the chamber likewise adjusted, and over all are to be placed a set of thick earthenware tiles, which have been fitted together so as to constitute a general covering to the whole, well calculated to retain heat.
63. The ensuing part of the process is one in which the precise order and most advantageous proceedings have not yet been ascertained. Variations have been made up to the very last experiment, and it is only by still more extensive experience that the arrangement will ultimately be settled.
64. A fire being lighted in the furnace, and some coke put beneath the glass chamber, the temperature is gradually raised. In about an hour the bottom of the chamber begins to appear ignited, and in four hours the top iron covers are usually dull red-hot. These appearances are useful as indications of the progress of the operation. When the furnace has been heated for the first half hour, then every care is taken that the temperature may be fully sustained to the end of the experiment; and besides the ordinary kind of attention to the fire, particular care is taken that coke be supplied, by the lateral holes, to the part beneath the chamber; for, if the fuel there be allowed to burn out, the heat soon falls, notwithstanding the flame from the coals. Although the fire may seem quickly to have attained its best condition, yet the temperature continues to rise in the chamber long afterwards; for, from the
